Virtual redaction service

ABSTRACT

A redaction system including a system for receiving an electronic version of a first document; a system for generating an electronic version of a second document which is a redacted version of the first document, wherein the system for generating includes a computer having a redaction engine coupled to a source of redaction rules; and a system for transmitting the second document from the redaction system.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) on U.S.provisional patent application No. 61/008,746 filed Dec. 21, 2007, andis related to commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/544,685filed Oct. 6, 2006, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) fromU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/724,986 filed on Oct. 6,2005, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One embodiment of the invention relates to a system, method and computerprogram product for creating redacted documents and, more particularly,to an automated redaction system, method and computer program product.

2. Brief Description of Prior Developments

U.S. Pat. No. 6,889,205, which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety, discloses a system and method for preparing a redactedstatement, message or file from an electronic statement, message or fileand sending it to a party. U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0158864,2004/0075692, and 2005/0027495, which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties, describe automatic creation of graphicalrepresentations, and intelligent agents for integrating informationaccess over extended networks.

Businesses as well as Federal, State and Local government agencies mustshare information. Examples include case files, arrest reports,subpoenaed documents (e.g., Freedom of Information Act—FOIA, LawEnforcement Information Sharing Program—LEISP, etc.) Redactingclassified, confidential or secret information from documents can belabor intensive. No effective means of automating the process ofremoving sensitive information from documents exists. There is a needfor a system and method for automatically removing sensitive informationfrom documents; especially a system which can work with differentdocument types.

SUMMARY

The following summary is merely intended to be exemplary. The summary isnot intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a redaction system isprovided comprising a system for receiving an electronic version of afirst document; a system for generating an electronic version of asecond document which is a redacted version of the first document,wherein the system for generating comprises a computer having aredaction engine coupled to a source of redaction rules; and a systemfor transmitting the second document from the redaction system.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a computer programproduct is provided comprising a computer readable storage mediumstoring a computer program configured to perform redaction operationswhen executed, the operations comprising receiving an electronic versionof a first document; generating an electronic version of a seconddocument which is a redacted version of the first document, wherein thesystem for generating comprises a computer having a redaction enginecoupled to a source of redaction rules; and transmitting the seconddocument from the redaction system.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is providedcomprising receiving an electronic version of a first document;generating an electronic version of a second document which is aredacted version of the first document, wherein the system forgenerating comprises a computer having a redaction engine coupled to asource of redaction rules; and transmitting the second document toanother party.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of these teachings are made more evidentin the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments, whenread in conjunction with the attached Drawing Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram depicting a redaction system configured tooperate in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a document to be redacted by a system operating inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts the document of FIG. 2 in a redacted form generated by asystem operating in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting components of the redaction systemcomprising an embodiment of one embodiment of the invention depicted inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 depicts a field in the document shown in FIG. 1 that is to beredacted by a system operating in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 9 depicts the document field of FIG. 8 in a redacted form generatedby a system operating in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart depicting a method in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 depicts tools for use in entering rules into the rule set of oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 depicts an aspect of one embodiment of the invention wherein oneembodiment of the invention can operate on documents in any format;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram depicting documents in several formats beinginput into a system operating in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention for redaction purposes and being output in a common format;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram depicting documents in several formats beinginput into a system operating in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention for redaction purposes and being output in several formats;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with one embodimentof the invention operating in a networked environment;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a system in accordance with anotherembodiment of one embodiment of the invention operating in a networkedenvironment;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram depicting a system operating in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention in which documents sourced fromseveral sites over a network are input into a system for redactionpurposes;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram depicting a system operating in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention in which documents sourced fromseveral sites over a network are input into a system for redactionpurposes and then made available over a network following redaction;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram depicting a system operating in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention in which documents in severalformats are made available over a network following redaction;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram illustrating one method and system of oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating one method and system of oneembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating one system and method of oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of a redactionsystem 10 incorporating features of one embodiment of the invention.Although the invention will be described with reference to the exemplaryembodiments shown in the drawings, it should be understood that theinvention can be embodied in many alternate embodiments.

The redaction system 10 is adapted to process a document 12 orelectronic version of the document or information in the document tocreate a modified document or electronic version of the modifieddocument with one or more redactions. An example is shown with referenceto FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a portion of an arrest report 16. Thearrest report 16 comprises cells 18-29. The cells of a document could bepre-established with borders such as is shown in FIG. 2, or could beestablished with the software of one embodiment of the invention. Asseen with reference to FIG. 3, one or more of the cells or informationin the cells can be redacted in a computer generated modified document14 of the arrest report 16.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the redaction system 10 generally comprises aredaction engine 30 and a rule set 32. The redaction engine 30 generallycomprises a computer system. A computer system operating in accordancewith one embodiment of the invention can take many forms such as adesktop computer; a notebook computer; or a computing system distributedacross a network. In each instance, the computing system comprises asource of documents to be redacted; a memory for storing a programconfigured to perform operations in accordance with the methods of theinvention when executed; and digital processing apparatus coupled to thesource of electronic documents to be redacted and the memory. Theredaction engine 30 is adapted to take an electronic version of thedocument 12, and remove or redact information in the document usingrules accessed from the rule set 32 to produce the modified document 14.The rule set 32 comprises a set of rules and/or process models to beapplied by the redaction engine 30.

Referring also to FIG. 5, the redaction engine comprises software whichis adapted to identify cell(s) in a document as indicated by block 34.The redaction engine 30 is then able to identify cell(s) in the documentto be excluded based upon the rule set 32 as indicated by block 36. Asindicated by block 38, the redaction engine can create a modifieddocument with one or more cells redacted. For the example shown in FIGS.2 and 3, the redaction engine can identify the cells 18-29 in theoriginal document 12, identify the cells 22, 23, 24 and 25 to beexcluded based upon the rule set 32, and create the modified document 14with the information in the cells 22-25 redacted. In this embodiment theredacted information is replaced by the phrase “SECTION REDACTED”.However, any suitable type of redaction indicia, such as marking couldbe provided. In other embodiments, no redaction indicia are provided inthe redacted versions of the documents. This masks from users whatcategories of information have been redacted.

In addition to identifying cell(s) to be excluded, or as an alternativeto identifying cell(s) to be excluded when all are to be excluded unlessindicated to be included, as indicated by block 40 the redaction engine30 could be adapted to identify cell(s) in the document to be includedbased upon the rule set 32. If both 36 and 40 are performed and there isa conflict, preferably block 36 will prevail. However, any suitableconflict resolution configuration or solution could be provided.

The rule set 32 is setup or established before the redaction engine 30can run automatically. Referring also to FIG. 6, establishment of therule set 32, or at least a portion of the rule set, can compriseidentifying cell(s) to be excluded as indicated by block 44, such as themonitoring cell 22, the Name of Officer cell 23, the Badge number cell24 and the Home Office of Arresting Officer cell 25 shown in FIGS. 2 and3. The cell(s) in a sample document could be used to identifying cell(s)as indicated by block 42, such as the cells 18-29 shown in FIGS. 2 and3. For example, use of software such as described in U.S. PatentPublication Nos. 2002/0158864, 2004/0075692, and 2005/0027495 could beused. The identity of the cell(s) to be excluded/included in the ruleset is then recorded for that type of document as indicated by block 46for use in the future on similar types of documents (e.g., other arrestreports). As indicated by block 48, cell(s) could also be identified tobe included for use with block 40 shown in FIG. 5.

Referring also to FIG. 7, one embodiment of the invention can be usedwith different types of documents. For example, a police drug seizurereport could be different than an arrest report. When the invention isused with different type documents, the redaction system is adapted toidentify a type of document as indicated by block 50. This could be amanual indication of the type of document by a person inputting thedocument into a database, a code on the document, or automaticrecognition of the document type by the redaction system for example.

After the type of document is identified, or perhaps duringidentification, the rule set set-up process can comprise identifyingcell(s) to be excluded as indicated by block 44. The identity of thecell(s) to be excluded/included in the rule set is then recorded forthat type of document as indicated by block 52 for use in the future onsimilar types of documents (e.g., other arrest reports). Cell(s) couldalso be identified to be included for use with block 40 shown in FIG. 5.

Referring also to FIG. 8, another portion of the arrest report document12 is shown, specifically the Narrative of Arrest cell 29. Referringalso to FIG. 9, which shows the cell 29 after automatic redaction by theredaction system 10, one embodiment of the invention can be used toredact sub-cells or text in a cell. The text could comprise words,phrases or characters or specific combinations for example. In theexample shown, the names of the special agents, witness location, andname of confidential informant are automatically redacted. Other formsof information could also be redacted, such as, for example, graphicalinformation (organization logos), visual information, photographicimages, etc. These are merely examples.

Referring also to FIG. 10, the redaction engine 30 comprises softwarewhich is adapted to identify text or words or phrases or characters in adocument as indicated by block 134. The redaction engine 30 is then ableto identify text or words or phrases or characters or areas in thedocument to be excluded based upon the rule set 32 as indicated by block136. As indicated by block 138, the redaction engine can create amodified document with one or more of the identified areas redacted. Forthe example shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the redaction engine can identifythe names of the special agents, witness location, and name ofconfidential informant in cell 29 of the original document 12, identifythe names Henry Thompson, Gary Williams, Delta Airlines, and informantBert to be excluded based upon the rule set 32, and create the modifieddocument 14 with the information in the automatically identified textredacted. In this embodiment the redacted information is replaced by thephrase “REDACTED”. However, any suitable type of redaction marking ordeletion could be provided. In addition to identifying cell(s) to beexcluded, or as an alternative to identifying cell(s) to be excludedwhen all are to be excluded unless indicated to be included, asindicated by block 140 the redaction engine 30 could be adapted toidentify cell(s) in the document to be included based upon the rule set32. If both 136 and 140 are performed and there is a conflict,preferably block 136 will prevail. However, any suitable conflictresolution configuration or solution could be provided. In this example,the text to be redacted in cell 29 could be imported into the rule setfrom a database(s) containing names of police officers, confidentialinformants and witnesses for example.

Referring also to FIG. 11, establishment of the rule set 32, or at leasta portion of the rule set, can comprise identifying text to be excludedas indicated by block 144, such as the names of officers as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. Text recognition software or an optical recognitionsoftware could be used. The text in previous redacted documents could beused to identify text to be excluded. For example, use of software suchas described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0158864, 2004/0075692,and 2005/0027495 could be used. The identity of the cell(s) to beexcluded/included in the rule set is then recorded for that type ofdocument as indicated by block 146 for use in the future on similartypes of documents (e.g., other arrest reports). As indicated by block148, cell(s) could also be identified to be included for use with block140 shown in FIG. 10.

Referring also to FIG. 12, once a rule set is developed as indicated byblock 54, the rule set is preferably tested as indicated by block 56.Testing can also be conducted periodically after the rule set is inplace. As indicated by block 58, the rule set can preferably be refinedand edited. For example, names of police officers can change because ofthe addition of new police officers. The rule set could be edited toinclude the names of new police officers. In addition, if testing findsan error or conflict causing an error, the rule set can preferably berefined. Rules could also be auto-generated based upon subsequent manualredactions by users. The rules set could be accumulating for redactionmaintenance. There could be automatic use of common rules for multipleusers or documents or other specifics.

Referring now also to FIG. 13, identification of cells and text in adocument for a rule set can comprise, for example, a point and clickprocedure with a mouse as indicated by block 60, a text or data entry bya keyboard as indicated by block 62, or import from another database asindicated by block 64. These are only some examples of how informationcan be input into a rule set. Any suitable alternative for data entrycould be used including relationship correlation in text. For example:

If “X” before “Y”, then redact “X” and “Y”.

Referring also to FIG. 14, in a preferred method the system is adaptedto work with any suitable type of original document format and outputany suitable type of modified document format. Referring also to FIGS.15-17, the original document 12 could comprise any one of a plurality ofdifferent document formats. For example, the original document couldcomprise HTML, DOC, PDF, XML, or XLS format. The system could be adaptedto work with any suitable format. Those formats mentioned above aremerely examples. As illustrated in FIG. 15, the redaction system 10 cancomprise a document pre-processor 66 and a document post-processor 68.As seen with reference to FIG. 16, the document pre-processor 66 isadapted to convert the format of the original document 12 to a commonformat 14′ such as WEBRECORDER™ XML format or CELWARE XML format byCelCorp Inc. for example. This allows a document to be broken intoregions to be identified with the redaction rule set. After theredaction engine, the document post-processor 68 can convert themodified document from its common format 14′ to a target format 14, suchas a HTML, DOC, PDF, XML, or XLS format for example.

Referring also to FIG. 18, features of one embodiment of the inventioncould be used over the Internet or on a web site. A web documentrecorder 70 could be connected to as a server for a web site. Therecorder 70 could form a link to the documents via the Internet, butwith the redaction engine running in the recorder 70. The recorder 70could apply the rule set 32 as needed when the documents are viewed onthe web site supported by the web document recorder 70.

Referring also to FIG. 19, features of one embodiment of the inventioncould be used with a web document manager or server 72. The manager 72could manage application of the rule set with the document pre-processor66, redaction engine 30 and document post-processor 68. With this typeof system the same rule set 32 could be used with multiple redactionengines.

Referring also to FIG. 20, the system shown in FIG. 18 could be used inconnecting documents from multiple sites 74 to the web document recorder70 such as 71 symbolizing the Internet or a computer network.

Referring also to FIG. 21, the system shown in FIG. 19 could be used inconnecting documents from multiple sites 74 to multiple agencies 76 withthe addition of an information gateway 78 and perhaps a threatassessment system 80. For example, the agencies could comprise the FBI,Police, Hospitals, 911 service, or other agency. The threat assessmentsystem 80 could record web process, automate the web process, andcorrelate information across web sites and other information sources.Referring also to FIG. 22, the Gateway 78 can be adapted to sort androute information such that information is available to users on apredetermined basis, such as by document type or information in thecells of the documents for example.

With one embodiment of the invention, documents could be redacted inreal time or, alternatively, the documents could be pre-redacted andstored for subsequent viewing. Alternatively, the system could beadapted to redact documents in real time, but once redacted store theredacted document for subsequent viewing without further automatedredaction being needed for the same document. In other words, a libraryof redacted documents could be created over time. A batch of documentscould also be redacted and stored if desired for an immediate library ordatabase of redacted documents, thus allowing separation of the redacteddocument database from more secure original document databases.

The methods depicted and described herein can be tangibly embodied as acomputer program in a computer-readable memory medium. Suchcomputer-readable memory media comprise an aspect of one embodiment ofthe invention. Instructions of the computer program perform operationsin accordance with the methods of one embodiment of the invention whenexecuted by digital processing apparatus. Tangible computer-readablememory media included, but are not limited to, hard drives, CD- or DVDROM, flash memory storage devices or RAM memory of a computer system.

With one embodiment of the invention, a system can be providedcomprising a source of electronic documents to be redacted; a source ofredaction rules; a redaction engine coupled to the source of electronicdocuments and the source of redaction rules, the redaction engineconfigured to redact the electronic documents in accordance with theredaction rules contained in the source of redaction rules, theredaction engine configured to perform operations, the operationscomprising:

-   -   accessing electronic documents to be redacted;    -   accessing redaction rules from the source of redaction rules;    -   redacting the electronic documents in accordance with the        redaction rules, creating redactions in the electronic        documents; and    -   generating tangible versions of the electronic documents        containing the redactions.

The source of electronic documents can comprise an electronic database.The source of electronic documents can comprise an electronic databaseaccessible over a network. Generating a tangible version can comprisedisplaying redacted versions of the electronic documents on a displayscreen. Redacting the electronic documents in accordance with theredaction rules can comprise identifying the electronic documents bydocument type; selecting redaction rules to be applied to the electronicdocuments in dependence on the identified document type; and redactingthe electronic documents in accordance with the selected redactionrules.

The electronic documents can comprise categories of information; wherethe redaction rules specify which categories of information are to beredacted; and where redacting the electronic documents in accordancewith the redaction rules further comprises redacting informationcontained in the electronic documents corresponding to the categories ofinformation specified in the redaction rules. The categories ofinformation can comprise text information. The categories of informationcan comprise graphical information. The graphical information cancomprise an organization logo. The categories of information cancomprise visual information. The visual information can comprisephotographic information. The electronic documents can comprise aplurality of document cells, where the selected redaction rules specifywhich document cells are to be redacted, and where redacting theelectronic documents in accordance with the selected redaction rulesfurther comprises redacting the document cells in the electronicdocuments specified in the selected redaction rules. The electronicdocuments can comprise categories of text, where the selected redactionrules specify which categories of text are to be redacted, and whereredacting the electronic documents in accordance with the selectedredaction rules further comprises redacting text in the electronicdocument corresponding to categories of text specified in the selectedredaction rules. The electronic documents can contain identificationcodes identifying document type, and where identifying the documentfurther comprises detecting the identification codes in the electronicdocuments to determine document type.

The identifying the electronic documents by document type can comprisereceiving inputs identifying the electronic documents by document type.Identifying the electronic documents by document type can comprise usingpattern recognition to identify the electronic documents by documenttype. Document redaction can be performed in real time. The electronicdocuments can be stored in unredacted form and wherein redacting theelectronic documents in accordance with the redaction rules is performedin real time when a user not entitled to view in unredacted form anelectronic document contained in the source of electronic documentsaccesses the electronic document. Redacting the electronic documents inaccordance with the redaction rules can be performed prior to requestsfor electronic documents contained in the source of electronicdocuments, the operations further comprising: saving to memory redactedelectronic documents.

The source of electronic documents can comprise a scanning systemconfigured to convert hard copies of documents to electronic documents;and a database configured to store the electronic documents created bythe conversion. Redactions can be reflected in the tangible version byredaction indicia, the redaction indicia identifying what categories ofinformation have been redacted in the electronic documents. Redactionsmight not be identified by redaction indicia, the absence of redactionindicia masking what categories of information have been redacted in theelectronic documents. The source of redaction rules can comprise aredaction rule entry system configured to receive redaction rules to beused when performing redaction operations. The redaction rule entrysystem can comprises a redaction rule editing system for editingpre-existing redaction rules comprising the source of redaction rules.The redaction rule entry system can be configured to receive commandsassociating redaction rules with specific electronic document types,wherein a particular redaction rule associated with a particularelectronic document type is used when redacting electronic documentscorresponding to the particular electronic document type.

The source of redaction rules can comprise rules specifying cells inelectronic documents to be reproduced without redaction. The operationscan comprise identifying cells in electronic documents corresponding tocells the redaction rules specify are to be reproduced withoutredaction; reproducing the identified cells without redaction. Theoperations can comprise detecting a conflict between at least one ruleindicating a particular cell is to be redacted and at least one ruleindicating the particular cell is to be reproduced without redaction;and resolving the conflict. The system can further comprise a manualredaction entry system configured to allow users to manually redactelectronic documents; and where the source of redaction rules furthercomprises an automated system configured to monitor patterns of manualredactions entered by users and to generate redaction rules independence on the monitoring activity.

The source of redaction rules can comprise rules specifying categoriesof information to be reproduced without redaction. At least one of thecategories of information can comprise text information. At least one ofthe categories of information can comprise graphical information. Atleast one of the categories of information can comprise visualinformation. The visual information further can comprise photographicimages. The system is can be configured to redact electronic documentsrecorded in a plurality of different electronic formats.

The system can further comprise an electronic document pre-processorconfigured to identify which electronic format a particular electronicdocument is recorded in and to convert the particular electronicdocument to a common electronic format. Redacting the electronicdocuments in accordance with the redaction rules can comprise performingthe redaction operations on the electronic documents when the electronicdocuments are in the common format. The electronic documentpre-processor can be configured to impose a cell format on a particularelectronic document in dependence on redaction rules contained in thesource of redaction rules. Redacting the electronic documents inaccordance with the redaction rules can comprise redacting cellsgenerated in the particular electronic document by the imposition of acell format. The system can further comprise an network gateway fordisseminating redacted electronic documents to users.

A computer program product can be provided comprising a computerreadable storage medium storing a computer program configured to performredaction operations when executed by digital processing apparatus, theoperations comprising:

-   -   accessing an electronic document to be redacted;    -   accessing at least one redaction rule to be applied to the        electronic document;    -   redacting the electronic document in accordance with the        redaction rule; and    -   storing the redacted electronic document in computer memory.

The computer program product operations can further comprise generatinga tangible version of the redacted electronic document. The computerprogram product can generate a tangible version of the redactedelectronic document and further comprises displaying the redactedelectronic document on a display device. The computer program productcan generating a tangible version of the redacted electronic documentfurther comprising printing a hard copy of the redacted electronicdocument. The computer program product operations can further comprise:after accessing the electronic document to be redacted and prior toredacting the electronic document, converting the electronic documentinto a different electronic format, and wherein redacting the electronicdocument further comprises redacting the electronic document in thedifferent electronic format. The computer program product operations canfurther comprise converting the redacted electronic document into adifferent electronic format.

With one embodiment of the invention a method can be provided comprisingreceiving redaction rules to be used in redacting electronic documents,where the redaction rules are specified in dependence on document type;storing the redaction rules to a computer memory, the computer memorycomprising a source of redaction rules; accessing an electronic documentto be redacted from a source of electronic documents; identifying theelectronic document to be redacted by document type; accessing redactionrules from the source of redaction rules appropriate for use inredacting the type of document to which the electronic documentcorresponds; redacting the electronic document in accordance with theredaction rules specified for the document type to which the electronicdocument corresponds, creating redactions in the electronic document;and generating a tangible version of the electronic document containingthe redactions.

One of the features of one embodiment of the invention is the ability toprovide redaction other than at a redacted document viewer's location.For example, the actual redaction could occur at a location remote fromthe viewer's location and subsequently viewed by the viewer remote fromthe location where redaction actually occurred. This type of system andmethod can alleviate the need for the viewer to have the redactionsoftware on his/her computer or computer network. For example, theviewer could use the Internet to access a remote computer whichperformed the redaction. As another example, the document could be sentby mail or courier to a remote location, such as in an electronic form,and sent to a viewer or otherwise made available in a redactedelectronic form. Examples of this type of system and method aredescribed with reference to FIG. 23.

As shown in FIG. 23, the system and method would comprise at least oneremote redaction location. The remote redaction location(s) arepreferably operated by a commercial service company which performsredaction services for its customers such as government departments oragencies for example. However, the service company could be partially orwholly owned by a government, such as a quasi-government agency forexample. This is referred to hereinafter as merely a “redaction entity”.The at least one remote redaction location could comprise a plurality ofremote redaction locations, and perhaps even an additional local(non-remote) redaction capability. For a plurality of remote redactionlocations, the remote redaction locations could be regional redactioncompany offices and perhaps different country redaction company offices.

The redaction location 100 comprises redaction software and equipment asdescribed above to enable the redaction entity to produce redacteddocuments based upon un-redacted documents supplied to it. The redactionentity can then deliver the redacted documents. As shown in FIG. 23, adocument supplier 102 supplies at least one document to the redactionentity at the redaction location 100 by a first delivery method 104 asindicated by arrows 106. The document supplier 102 could be a customerof the redaction entity or another party. The first delivery method 104could comprise an electronic delivery method, such as via the Internetfor example, or a non-electronic delivery method such as delivery of apaper document by post or by a courier for example. For an electronicdelivery method, the original un-redacted document could be encrypted.The delivery could comprise a single document or a batch of multipledocuments. The delivery could be regular, and/or sporadic such as whenneeded or requested by the customer for example, and/or based upon areal time (or substantially real time) interaction between a computer ofthe document supplier 102 and the computer at the redaction location100. For example, a redacted document could be produced at almost thesame time the un-redacted document is saved on the document supplier'scomputer, or perhaps at the end of the day or week. This can provide avirtual redaction service remote from the document supplier's location.

Once the redacted document(s) is/are created at the remote location 100,the redacted document(s) could be stored at the remote location 100 (oranother storage location) and/or delivered to the document supplier 102and/or a third party 108. The un-redacted document(s) delivered to theredaction entity could be stored at the remote location 100 (or anotherstorage location) or deleted/destroyed or delivered to another locationor entity.

If the redacted document is delivered to the document supplier it/theycould be delivered as indicated by arrows 110 via the first deliverysystem 104 or perhaps a different delivery system. It should be notedthat the un-redacted document(s) could be supplied by a first entity orperson of the document supplier and the redacted document could besubsequently delivered to a second different entity or person of thedocument supplier. The delivery of the redacted document could merelycomprise a person at a computer terminal at the document supplier usinga viewer application to view the redacted document located on thecomputer at the remote location.

If the redacted document(s) is/are delivered to a person or entity 108other than the document supplier 102, the redacted document(s) could bedelivered as indicated by arrows 112 via a second delivery system 114.The second delivery system 114 could be the same as the first deliverysystem 104 or perhaps could be a different delivery system. In one typeof embodiment, the delivery of the redacted document to the third party108 could merely comprise a viewer application wherein a person at acomputer terminal could view the redacted document located at the remotelocation.

As an example, the redaction entity could be a contractor hired by theDepartment of Defense for all Army JAG (Judge Advocate General) units.The redaction service center run by the redaction entity might belocated in Washington D.C. However, all the various JAG units throughoutthe world could send un-redacted documents to the redaction servicecenter, such as via secure telecommunications, and the remote servicecenter could then send the redacted documents back to therequesting/supplying JAG unit. In this fashion, the rules used forredaction could be uniformly controlled at one location.

As another example, one embodiment of the invention could be used withthe U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The redaction entity could be acontractor hired by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). The redactionservice center, run by the redaction entity, might be located inWashington D.C. However, all the various DOJ units throughout the UnitedStates of America could send un-redacted documents to the redactionservice center (or regional centers), such as via securetelecommunications, and the remote service center could then send theredacted documents back to the requesting/supplying DOJ unit. In thisfashion, the rules used for redaction could be uniformly controlled atone location.

Thus, one embodiment of the invention can be used to provide a remote(at least partially) redaction service; perhaps as a managed servicecenter. Customers could purchase a subscription service such as at aperiodic rate and/or perhaps at a per document or per word rate. Thistype of service can alleviate the need for the party desiring to have adocument redacted from having to load and maintain the redactionsoftware on his/her/its computer system.

In its simplest form, the service could be provided as an onlineInternet service. A document supplier 102 could upload an un-redacteddocument, using the Internet as the first delivery system 104, to theremote redaction location 100, such as with an SSL or PGP encryption ofthe un-redacted document. The document supplier could pay for theredaction service by credit card or deposit account or electronic fundstransfer for example. The redaction entity would produce the redacteddocument and download it back to the document supplier 102 such as viathe Internet for example. Thus, the redaction entity can operate anonline redaction service for customers.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, the redaction rules used by the redactionentity could be at least partially selected by the document supplier fora plurality of different sets of rules. The document supplier can supplythe document(s) as indicated by block 116 and select a set of redactionrules as indicated by block 118. The selection could be as simple as“only names” or “names and dates” or “names and locations”, or“Sensitive” versus “Top Secret” for example. Any suitable type ofpre-determined rules sets could be provided for the user/supplier toselect. Alternatively, the user/supplier may not be able to make aselection. As another alternative, the selection could be pre-determinedbased upon the department in a government agency or the type of documentwhich redaction is being requested. For example, an employmentapplication document or a document from a personal department mightautomatically have a first rules set versus a document from anintelligence department or an intelligence document which couldautomatically have a second rules set.

The redaction entity could generate a comprehensive redaction set ofrules based upon its interaction with totally separate customers whooperate in similar fields. Referring to FIG. 25, for example, theredaction entity could generate a common or basic redaction set of rules120 based upon requirements or rules of the New York City policedepartment and the Boston police department as indicated by blocks 122and 124. This could provide both customers (the New York City policedepartment and the Boston police department) with a more desirableredaction, and perhaps uniform redaction procedures/rules less likely tobe successfully challenged in a court of law. This could also be used byadditional new customers, such as the Houston police department forexample, as a basis for their use of the service; or at least a startingpoint for adapting the service to its use. Thus, the service can allownew users in similar fields to subscribe to the service without havingto “reinvent the wheel” and start the rule set creation from scratch.

It is seen that the foregoing description has provided by way ofexemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative descriptionof the best methods and apparatus presently contemplated by theinventors for performing document redaction. One skilled in the art willappreciate that the various embodiments described herein can bepracticed individually; in combination with one or more embodimentsdescribed herein; or in combination with redaction systems differingfrom those described herein. Further, one skilled in the art willappreciate that the invention can be practiced by other than thedescribed embodiments; that the described embodiments are presented forthe purposes of illustration and not of limitation; and that theinvention embraces all alternatives, modifications and variations thatfall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A redaction system comprising: a system forreceiving an electronic version of a first document; a system forgenerating an electronic version of a second document which is aredacted version of the first document, wherein the system forgenerating comprises a computer having a redaction engine coupled to asource of redaction rules, wherein the source of redaction rulescomprises at least one rule for automatically excluding information inthe first document from the second document; and a system fortransmitting the second document from the redaction system.
 2. Aredaction system as in claim 1 further comprising a billing system forbilling a customer for converting information from the first documentinto the second document.
 3. A redaction system as in claim 1 whereinthe information, which the at least one rule excludes, comprises textinformation.
 4. A redaction system as in claim 1 wherein theinformation, which the at least one rule excludes, comprises informationin a document cell.
 5. A redaction system as in claim 1 wherein theinformation, which the at least one rule excludes, comprises visualgraphical information.
 6. A redaction system as in claim 1 wherein theinformation, which the at least one rule excludes, comprises visualphotographic information.
 7. A redaction system as in claim 1 whereinthe source of redaction rules comprise at least one rule forautomatically including a second piece of information in the seconddocument from the first document.
 8. A redaction system as in claim 1wherein the at least one rule is configured to exclude the informationby replacing the information with a redaction marker.
 9. A redactionsystem as in claim 1 wherein the at least one rule is configured toexclude the information by removing the information before creating thesecond document.
 10. A computer program product comprising a computerreadable storage medium storing a computer program configured to performredaction operations when executed, the operations comprising: receivingan electronic version of a first document; generating an electronicversion of a second document which is a redacted version of the firstdocument, wherein generating comprises a computer having a redactionengine coupled to a source of redaction rules, wherein generating thesecond document comprises at least one rule of the source of redactionrules automatically excluding a first piece of information in the firstdocument from being contained in the second document; and transmittingthe second document from the redaction system.
 11. A computer programproduct as in claim 10 wherein the computer program product is furtherconfigured to at least partially determine an invoice amount to bill acustomer for converting information from the first document into thesecond document.
 12. A method comprising: receiving an electronicversion of a first document; generating an electronic version of asecond document which is a redacted version of the first document,wherein generating the second document comprises a computer having aredaction engine coupled to a source of redaction rules having at leastone rule which automatically excludes a first piece of information inthe first document from being contained in the second document; andtransmitting the second document to another party.
 13. A method as inclaim 12 further comprising billing a customer for convertinginformation from the first document into the second document.
 14. Amethod as in claim 12 wherein the first piece of information comprisestext information which is replaced by a redaction marker in the seconddocument.
 15. A method as in claim 12 wherein the first piece ofinformation comprises information in a document cell which is replacedby a redaction marker in the second document.
 16. A method as in claim12 wherein the first piece of information comprises visual graphicalinformation which is excluded.
 17. A method as in claim 12 wherein thefirst piece of information comprises visual photographic informationwhich is excluded.
 18. A method as in claim 12 wherein the source ofredaction rules comprise at least one rule for automatically includinginformation in the second document from the first document.
 19. A methodas in claim 12 wherein automatically excluding the first piece ofinformation from being contained in the second document comprisesreplacing the first piece of information from the first document with aredaction indication in the second document.
 20. A method as in claim 12wherein automatically excluding the first piece of information frombeing contained in the second document comprises removing the firstpiece of information before creating the second document.
 21. Aredaction system comprising: a system for receiving an electronicversion of a first document; a system for automatically generating anelectronic version of a second document which is a redacted version ofthe first document when the first document is requested by a thirdparty, wherein the system for generating comprises a computer having aredaction engine coupled to a source of redaction rules, wherein thesource of redaction rules comprise at least one rule for automaticallyincluding a first piece of information in the first document in thesecond document, and wherein the system for generating the electronicversion of the second document is configured to automatically expunge asecond piece of information in the first document from being in thesecond document; and a system for transmitting the second document fromthe redaction system to the third party.
 22. A method comprising: basedupon a request for a first document, automatically generating anelectronic version of a second document, where the second document isdifferent from the first document and includes at least some informationfrom the first document, where a processor connected to a memory havinga source of rules automatically applies at least one of the rules toinformation from the first document to automatically generate the seconddocument when the request for the first document is made; and storingthe second document or transmitting the second document.
 23. Anapparatus comprising: a system for automatically generating anelectronic version of a second document based upon a request for a firstdocument, where the second document is different from the first documentand includes at least some information from the first document, andwhere the system for automatically generating the electronic version ofthe second document comprises a processor connected to a memory having asource of rules; and a system for storing the second document ortransmitting the second document, where the system for automaticallygenerating the electronic version of the second document is configuredto automatically apply at least one rule from the source of rules toinformation from the first document to automatically generate the seconddocument when the request for the first document is made.